The United Nations Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities began consideration today of a report-on the question of discrimination by Governments against the right to leave a country, including the country of birth, and to return to a country–an evaluation which may touch on the refusal of the Soviet Union to allow its Jews to emigrate.
The discussion is based on a report of the Subcommission’s special rapporteur, Jose D. Ingles of the Philippines, who said his findings from 30 governments would be used to prepare draft monographs which will be went to the governments concerned for comment and additional data.
He reported to the Subcommission that most of the replies received from governments thus far indicated that no discrimination existed in regard to the right of everyone to leave any country, including his own, and to return. However, the rapporteur added, some countries deny both nationals and foreigners the right to leave the country and that this denial is based on broad and imprecise grounds.
He mentioned, as examples, positions of such governments that activities of those leaving might be prejudicial to the interests of the country or that they might endanger its internal or external security. He explained that for his draft report, he would have to have additional material from governments and non-governmental organizations, asserting that so far, only a relatively small number of countries and organizations had provided such material.
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